Wright Memorial Bridge Westbound Bridge Closed Until May 15

Posted On Sunday, September 15, 2013

Beginning Monday, September 16, a new project begins to improve the westbound US 158 Wright Memorial Bridge over the Currituck Sound. The NC Department of Transportation (NCDOT) will close the westbound bridge and divert traffic onto the US 158 eastbound bridge onto a two-lane, two-way pattern. According to the NCDOT, the westbound bridge will reopen no later than May 15, 2014.

This closure will allow crews to replace the top section of the existing concrete on the bridge deck with a layer of latex-modified concrete that will eliminate the conditions causing trucks and other large vehicles to bounce and potentially damage the bridge. It will also strengthen previous repairs made to the bridge by increasing the amount of concrete covering the bridge's steel structure.

Due to materials that crews are using for this construction, bridge work can only be done when air temperatures are between 50 and 85 degrees; the surface temperatures are between 40 and 85 degrees; and wind speeds are no stronger than 10 miles per hour.

If a hurricane or severe storm hits our region and requires an evacuation, NCDOT will work with local emergency management officials to plan appropriate routes, including the use of US 64 and the eastbound bridge on US 158.

If the bridge work is not finished by May of 2014, crews will reopen the bridge to traffic with plans to close it again in September 2014 to complete the project.